Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-02-23

After three days of such experience as !
hope I never may be called upon to undergo
again, I arrived in sight of Osceola noun
tain and Immediately began observations
with my spyglass. The morning was clear,
and through a cleft in the forest, which I
discovered after much trouble, I was able
to see a portion Of the strange house and a
little of its surroundings. A days constant
watching convinced me that there were but
two servants about the place. colored man
and woman-and three or four large dogs.
Beyond these evidences of life I saw moth
ing, and concluded to make a closer survey
the next morning. After doing quite
comfortably in the forked limbs of a large
tree, from which a panther hal leaped be-
fore I took possession, I came down from
my perch at daylight, and, after a hasty
meal, proceeded up the side of the noun
tain. I had to push my way through the
closest underbrush and tangling vines, and
now and then I lost my way and could only
retrace my steps with the aid of the com
pass. At last, about noon, I had come
within sight of the house, which lay ahead
OF me at least a quarter of a mile. I
stopped, and before proceeding further <
amined my revolvers md laid wide open
their holsters. Then my rifle I placed full
cooked before me and proceeded onward
with as light and n~oiseless steps as I could
command. I had gone but a short dis
lance before I saw I was discovered by the
old negro, who hurried into the house, and
returning with several ~bloodhounds set them
upon me. 1t was but a moment, but
when I had ceased firing I saw lying dead
before me three as savage looking dogs as
ever tracked a slave. The negro was no.
where in sight. With my rifle at my shout
der I again advanced, and crossing the
small clearing came at last to the door of
the house, upon which I raped with a
vigorous blow. There was no response, |
neither could I detect the slightest sound
within. At last, in response to the de-
m ,nds Of my voice, a window above was |
slowly raised, and the face of an old colored |
woman peered upon me-. It was with great
difficulty that I could persuade her that I
had no hostile intentions, but was only a
gentleman well armed, who had been in
structed by the authorities to visit the house
and report what I had seen. While this
conversation was being held she was Joined
by her companion, who insisted in vigor-
Gus, although ungrammatical English, that
they would allow no one to come in. But I
persisted in my demands. I told them that
| was the sheriff of the county, with a num-
Der OF men near by to support my inten-
ton to examine the premises. I said I would
not arrest them if they allowed me to enter
using force. At last they came
and opened the door and silently
watched me as l entered and seated myself
facing them n an armchair, Of ancient and
Easy pattern. I glanced about the room.
It was un :arpeted, but the floor was spot
,oSc1v r4yIifo Ho~1 r~l kln-> .r>-o ~%:9 |
of mahogany shining with polish.
Of the room with its bright array of
)ut the genial warmth of blazing logs. A
generous table, free from speck or dust,
hat might have seated a dozen guests, stood ,
n the middle Of the apartment, while upon ;
he walls, covered with faded cloth of an .
ique pattern, hung large engravings Of :
lting scenes. Taking in these features of )
ny surroundings with a rapid glance, 1 =
urned to the silent figures before me. =
It's there anybody besides you two herc?" -
1either answered, and I repeated the ques- =
ion, laying my land with suggestive gest- :
re upon the hilt of my revolver. .
The woman spoke, her voice trembling: =
No, massa; dere's nobody here but us. -
'ou shot all de dogs. We's all dat's left {.
Poor ole missus''- =
Here the old man jerked her dress so VIC b
.ntly that she nearly lost her balance, and
she became silent, laying her ha I'd y
18th grotesque pressure on her mouth. It y
as some tim before I could induce either 3
them to speak or answer any of my nu- !.
lerous questions. At last they began to ~
etray their native fear of the white race. d
I'D being assured by me that I would not 9
Ike them to jail they began to slowly u rs
lrden the history of their lives. te
The story briefly told me was this: Nine. I,
some thirty years ago, had de- al
rted her husband, and, accompanied by ~
lese trusty slaves, had fled from home OF
: night. After several days journey.
nlch they made on foot, they came to this O,
which had been built and prepared ar
+ tnem, by whom they did not know, nor m
q tnelr mistress ever tell them. Thew HI
una IL all ready and fixed for them Just as tel
Is nov, and when they entered it no one tn
Is IN sight to welcome them. They three au
sn5 into the house alone, and had lived in,
me, without a single visitor except an CO
mountaineer, all these thirty wears. NJ,
even this nountaineer had never seen al,
er mistress face to face. She had never Pr
Z the house except on moonlight nights.
Zen she walked around the little clearing =
th the dogs. ~
During all this period their mistress had Fat
spoken to any n but them, nor had
, In any way communicated with the ont
e world. The day she passed in reading
fious old books and missals, a hundred Of S
lcn 1 saw on a long row of shelves in her a s
I'm. Every night she walked the floor Of 4
: apartment until midnight, when she re- thi
to her fourpost high bedstead, hung S
'und with dingy black curtains. She pc.
yer asked any questions, except about the 1
ather and the direction of the wind. She 9th
ate by herself and her diet was Tin
St frugal. She used neither tea o A
ate no meat Of any kind, but lived rib
ius'vely on corn bread, ordinary vege- Co,
'es and milk. The only animal about ~
place, except the hounds, had been the IA n
'. Twice a year the mountaineer brought 1 III
% vegetables and groceries. and was wall Dill